Oldcastle Rocks - Postponed

It is with great regret that we have made the decision to postpone Oldcastle Rocks tomorrow due to the predicted rain forecast.  The event is an outside event and as a result we are not able to relocate the event inside. The health and safety of our performers and visitors is of paramount concern and we do not feel it appropriate to run the event in the wet weather. We are extremely disappointed particularly given the recent dry weather.

We will reschedule the event to Saturday 27th September. We are so grateful to all the performers, entertainers and helpers who have offered to help and we hope you are able to be part of the event in September.  All raffle and tombola donations will be used in the revised date in September.

Community Food Pantry

Our Food Pantry is restocked weekly and we encourage everyone to call in and take a look at the fantastic food we have available. We are extremely grateful to receive ongoing funding for the pantry along with donations of food from Baobab Bach.  The pantry is stocked weekly, mainly on a Monday morning, and this is available for all parents and carers to make use of.  The pantry works on the basis of 15 items for £5.

Weekly Attendance

We are committed to promoting good attendance at school and have a target of whole school attendance of 95%.  This week's attendance was 94.8%.

Tesco Community Blue Token Scheme - look out for us in Tesco!

We are delighted to have been accepted to be included in the Tesco Community Blue Token Scheme from July to September this year. Our project is now live in stores so please support us!

Oldcastle Primary School, Community Pantry, Bridgend

Our food pantry ensures that our pupils and their families have access to nutritious food and essential supplies, all-year round.

The project with the highest number of votes across your region will receive £1,500, the second placed project £1,000 and the third placed project £500. 

Please see below a list of stores taking part in the voting on your project. Feel free to share this list of stores amongst your supporters and within your community.

• Bridgend 1 Superstore CF31 4AP

• Bridgend Extra CF31 3SQ

• Gentle Way Bridgnd Express Express CF31 5EJ

• North Cornelly Express Express CF33 4LN

• Pencoed Express Express CF35 5NG

Here's Esme from year 2 popping her tokens in earlier this week.  Great photo Esme!!

School Savings Club

Message from Bridgend School Savings:

Next week will be our last school savings collection of the year. It has been another successful year, and we continue to expand our school membership and partnerships with new schools. I would like to thank all the staff, children, and families who have embraced school savings – it is lovely visiting all the schools and meeting so many children building good habits and learning about money management.

The children do not need to withdraw any savings as we will return in September. However, if your child wishes to withdraw some or all of their savings, a BACS withdrawal (Bank Transfer) can be arranged online at any time by their parent/guardian using the School Withdrawal Form - Bridgend School Savings. BACs transfers are the easiest way to withdraw their savings, and we encourage all our savers to choose this option whenever possible. We aim to process all BACs withdrawals within 48 hours.

During the summer holidays, we can be contacted through our website at Bridgend School Savings - Part of Bridgend Life Savers Union or by visiting the main Bridgend Lifesavers Credit Union office at 1/1A Caroline Street, or by calling us on 01656 667089.

A note regarding our Year 6s: If they have a younger sibling in school, they are more than welcome to continue saving for them. Alternatively, they can save directly with the credit union by setting up a standing order or visiting the branch in Bridgend. 

If you have any other questions, you can find lots of information at Bridgend School Savings - Part of Bridgend Life Savers Union. You can contact us through our website (including during school holidays) or via email at damianf@blscu.co.uk.

Thanks once again for all your support!

Kind regards,

Damian Faulkner

School Partnerships

Email: damianf@blscu.co.uk

Website: www.bridgendschoolsavings.com

Term Dates

The term dates for the school year 2026 / 27 have been confirmed by Welsh Government and Bridgend County Borough Council. You can view the dates on the BCBC website and our school calendar has been updated on the website.

Contact Details

Please ensure that we have up to date contact details for you. You can let us know if you change your address or phone number by filling in this form. Change of Contact Details

After School Club and Late Club Prices Increase from 1st September 2025

The following information has been emailed to all users of the after school and late club facility. Following a review of our Afterschool and Late Club provision, we find it necessary to make some adjustments to our pricing structure. The increase in fees is due to increases in our operating costs and will allow us to continue to offer the service you expect both now and into the future.

Prices will increase from 1st of September 2025 

• Afterschool Club will increase to £9.00 per session

• Late Club will increase to £2.50 per session

We thank you for your ongoing support and trust that these changes will help us to continue providing you with the service.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

• September - Respect and Responsibility 

• October - Compassion and Hope 

• November - Friendship and Forgiveness 

• December - Understanding and Patience

• January - Determination and Perseverance

• February - Honesty and Trust 

• March -Learning and Effort 

• April - Community and Service 

• May - Co-operation and being a good citizen within society

• June- Showing Gratitude and Care and Generosity

• July - Taking and managing risks 

At Oldcastle, we are proud of each other and ourselves. We nurture all of our community so that we grow as confident, responsible and happy people. Oldcastle school is more than just learning. 

• We try hard for each other

• We act responsibly

• We treat people how we’d like to be treated

• We work as a team

• We trust and respect each other

• We listen and learn together

• We share knowledge and experience

Together we make the difference

Together we shape innovative experiences 

More information on our values and visions can be found on our website.  Visions and Values

Nut Free School

Please can we remind parents that we strive to be a nut free school as we have a number of pupils who have a severe allergy to nuts.  

This includes nut products such as peanut butter and nutella. 

Contact details

Please ensure we have up to date contact details for you to ensure you keep up to date with school news and we are able to contact you during the school day if required.  You can either email us with change of details (ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk) or complete the change of details form.  

We love to hear about pupil success outside of school.  Please email us any achievements to ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk What a busy week we have had with pupil success congratulations to you all!

Netball Success

Well done Bette on your Coach's Player of the Year award for Pencoed Pegasus Under 10's!

Football Success

Lots of success in the Bridgend Town football presentation last weekend - well done everyone for your commitment to your club.  

Well done to the following for their individual award.

Under 8's

• Club Girl of the Year - Beatrice

• Coaches Player of the Year - Grace

• Parents Player and joint Players Player of the Year - Oscar

• Most Improved Plauyer - Alfie and Farley

• Coaches Player of the Year - Gethin

Under 9's 

• Supporters Player of the Year - Betsi Mai

Rugby Success

Congratulations to Reeve and Roux from year 5 who have been selected for the Bridgend District Schools Rugby Team for the next school year.

Rugby Success

Congratulations to Sam and Max from year 2 for their recent rugby medals.

We were blown away by the cross-stitch that Abigail from year 6 has been working on recently.  The detail and effort she has put into the cross-stitch is amazing.  Abigail has donated this to the school and we are thrilled to display in our reception area. Diolch Abigail! 

Year 6 have been working really hard practising for their end of year production. Grease is sounding amazing and we can't wait to see it!

The Bridge

We are excited to announce that we will be offering Healthy Packed Lunches for children under the age of 16 throughout the Summer Holidays. Packed lunches are available in our Community Hub from 11am - 3pm.  We are thrilled to introduce our Summer Kids Activity Planner! Throughout the summer, we will be offering a variety of engaging activities that kids are sure to love.  As the event dates come closer, tickets will be available for FREE on Eventbrite. Our Support Workers at the Community Hub are also here to help with your bookings.

Halo Swimming

Bridgend Libraries Summer Reading Scheme

Bridgend Library came along to the school assembly today to launch the summer reading scheme. More information below. Please note this will now take place in the Bowls Hall.

• Friday 18th July Term Ends

Inset Days 2024/25

• Monday 2nd September 2024

• Friday 6th December 2024

• Friday 21st February 2025

• Friday 11th April 2025

• Monday 2nd June 2025

• Monday 21st July 2025

Inset Days for 2025 / 2026

The inset days for 2025 / 26 have been approved by school governors and these are as follows:

• Monday 1st September 2025 

• Friday 21st November 2025

• Monday 5th January 2026

• Friday 13th March 2026

• Friday 22nd May 2026

• Monday 20th July 2026

Health and Wellbeing / PE Days

• Nursery - Thursday

• Reception -  Wednesday

• Year 1 - Monday

• Year 2 - Tuesday

• Year 3 - Friday

• Year 4 - Friday

• Year 5 - Friday

• Year 6 - Friday

In the event that you have a concern regarding a child please follow this procedure:

• During school hours please contact Mrs Ceri Littlewood, safeguarding lead at Oldcastle Primary School.

• Out of school hours please  contact  the  out of hours Emergency Duty Team Tel No 01443743665

More information on Safeguarding at Oldcastle can be found on our website.